3 dead in fire at Tata Group headquarters

A fire broke out in the landmark south Mumbai structure, Bombay House, the global headquarters of the Tata Group – one of India’s largest conglomerates that operates more than 80 companies across six continents – and the office of the Group’s chairman, Ratan Tata, on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring two.

Fire brigade and civic officials suspect that the fire broke out in a split air-conditioning unit in the basement of the 87-year-old Grade II heritage structure.

Farad Wadia, 26, Eashwar Patel, 45, and Shashank Pawar, 30, suffocated to death, authorities said. The injured are in the ICU of St George hospital and are stable.

The basement houses a canteen, offices and an auditorium, which is against development control rules, civic officials said.

A statement issued by the Tatas said the group was cooperating with the investigators.